Folding table



Jan. 9, 1934- K. G. JOHANSON 1,942,603

' FOLDING TABLE Filed June 20, 1932 Patented Jan. 9, 1934 STTES ArsNroFFlcE Y 2 Claims.

This invention relates to folding tables of the cross-legged type, andit aims to improve tables of this character with a view to adapting themfor use as high or low screens, as well as for the purposes of a tableor stand, while at the same time providing an exceptionally sturdy andrigid construction.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from thefollowing description when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a table embodying my invention andfolded into a position to serve as a high screen;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the table folded to serve as a low screen,the lower ends of the legs being broken off;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the table as shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the table with the top supported in atilted or inclined position; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing the table used in the normal orordinary manner.

The table shown comprises a top 11, preferably equipped with twoparallel cleats 4.4 secured to the lower side of said top. For thepurpose of supporting the table top two pairs ofcrossed legs 7 areprovided. One member of each pair of legs is pivoted at l to the table,the two pivotal points being located in the same axis. The other membersof the two pairs of legs are not connected directly to the table but arepivoted on the ends of bent arms or links 55 at the opposite ends of atie rod or rock shaft 3 which is supported partly in one of the cleats 4and partly in a clip 19, Fig. 2, so that it can rock about an axisparallel to the axis of the pivots 1l. The axis of the tie rod or rockshaft is spaced from the axis of said pivots by a distance equal to thelengths of the links 55 so that the pivot points of the four upper endsof the legs can all be brought into the same straight axial line. Whenthe legs have been folded to position their upper ends in this manner,the table top can then be swung into either the position shown in Fig. lor that illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Due to the fact that the axis onwhich the table swings is located much closer to one edge of the tabletop than to the other, it can be made to serve either as a high screenor a low screen, as desired.

When the legs are spread apart, as shown in Fig. 5, the links swing intopositions approximately parallel with the table top, and the top then issupported in a horizontal position, as shown in said figure, where itserves the purposes v of the ordinary table or stand. A spring actuatedlock 19 may be provided to cooperate with one of the links to secure thetable in this position.

In order to add stability and rigidity to the entire assembly, as wellas for simplicity in manufacture, the two pairs of legs are pivoted onopposite ends of a pivot rod or shaft 17, and two diagonal braces 1l14are secured to the opposite ends of this shaft just inside the legs.Each brace runs diagonally to the upper end of the inner leg opposite tothe end of the shaft on which it is secured. Consequently, this bracingarrangement does not interfere in any way with the folding of the table,but the braces serve to give lateral stability to the table in allpositions, whether folded or open. This arrangement thus provides anexceedingly sturdy table of the folding type while at the same timefacilitating the manufacturing operations.

By pivoting a hook 12 to one of the pair of legs at one side of thetable, and providing suitably spaced holes 16, Fig. 4, in the other legto receive the end of the hook, the spread of the legs may be soadjusted as to hold the table top in an inclined position, as shown inFig. 4. I

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1. A folding table comprising a table top, two pairs of crossed legs forsupporting said top, means for pivotally connecting the upper end of onemember of each pair of legs to said table, two links pivoted to theupper ends of the other members, respectively, of each pair of legs andconnecting them to the table at points lying in a common axis but spacedfrom the first mentioned pivotal connections by such a distance thatboth pairs of said legs can be folded to bring all of said pivotalconnections into line in a com mon axis, with two of said legs disposedbetween the other two legs, a pivot rod common to both pairs of legs,and two braces extending diagonally from the opposite ends of said pivotrod to the opposite upper ends of the inner members of said pairs oflegs.

2. A folding table comprising a table top, two pairs of crossed legs forsupporting said top, means for pivotally connecting the upper end of onemember of each pair of legs to said table, two links pivoted to theupper ends of the other members, respectively, of each pair of legs andconnecting them to the table at points lying in the other inner leg at apoint adjacent to the end of said pivot rod, and a second diagonal bracecrossing the other brace and connected to the upper end of the latterleg adjacent to its point of connection with one of said links andrunning to the opposite inner leg at a point adjacent to the pivotalconnection of the latter leg with said pivot rod. I

KARL G. JOHANSON.

